LAIYANG, China, Nov. 17 /Xinhua-PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Genesis Pharmaceuticals Enterprises, Inc. (“Genesis” or the “Company”), a U.S. pharmaceutical company with its principal operations in the People’s Republic of China, today announced its financial results for its first quarter of fiscal year 2009 ended September 30, 2008.
“Genesis had a good first quarter because of our on-going marketing and sales efforts. Baobaole Chewable tablets continued to generate strong sales, and we recently started selling a new product, Radix Isatidis Dispersible Tablets, which is used to treat cold and flu symptoms,” said Mr. Wubo Cao, Chairman and CEO of Genesis. “We expect to continue to expand our marketing and sales efforts and continue to explore opportunities to acquire, manufacture and sell new products in order to further develop shareholder value throughout the rest of fiscal year 2009.”
First Quarter of Fiscal Year 2009 Results
Total revenue from sales and sales to related parties totaled $27.6 million for the three months ended September 30, 2008, up 65.9% to $16.6 million for the three months ended September 30, 2007. Revenues increased because of strong sales of the Company’s two products, Itopride Hydrochloride Granules and Baobaole chewable tablets, a product which was successfully launched in the second quarter of fiscal year 2008.
Gross profit in the first quarter of fiscal year 2009 was $21.8 million, an increase of 81.3% from $12.0 million for the prior year’s corresponding period. Gross margin increased 79.1%, up from 72.4% for the prior year’s corresponding period. Gross margin increased because of increased sales of higher margin products, especially Baobaole chewable tables, more efficient production and well managed purchases of raw materials.
Research and development costs totaled $1.1 million for the three months ended September 30, 2008, compared to $0.3 million for the three months ended September 30, 2007. This increase was due to two new cooperative research and development agreements that were signed in the latter part of fiscal 2008. The Company began making monthly payments to support university research and development projects.
Selling, general and administrative expenses were $13.4 million for the three months ended September 30, 2008, up 95.7% from $6.8 million in the three months ended September 30, 2007. Salaries, wages and related benefits increased $8.6 million primarily because of an increase in the Company’s number of employees and higher commissions as a percentage of sales paid to sales representatives. Other factors for the increase in selling, general and administrative expenses included higher advertising, marketing and promotion expenditures, and costs related to being a public company.
Income from operations was $7.3 million for the three months ended September 30, 2008, a 48.9% increase from $4.9 million for the three months ended September 30, 2007.
Although the Company had a $2.4 million increase in income from operations, other expenses increased by $2.1 million. Net income for the three months ended September 30, 2008 was $3.1 million, compared to $3.2 million for the three months ended September 30, 2007. Excluding an unrealized loss on security investments of $1.0 million and a non-cash charge for amortization of discounts on convertible debt of $0.7 million, adjusted net income for the three months ended September 30, 2008 was $4.8 million or $0.49 per fully diluted share, which translates to a 49.5% increase in non-GAAP net income for the three months ended September 30, 2008 compared to the same period last year.
Management believes that operating income will grow and net income will improve in the remainder of fiscal year 2009 as the Company will continue to strengthen its sales efforts, offer new products, improve manufacturing efficiency and more closely control spending.
Financial Condition
As of September 30, 2008, the Company had $61.3 million in cash. Working capital was $77.4 million, up from $73.2 million as of June 30, 2008. Current liabilities were $23.4 million and long-term debt consisted of $3.2 million in convertible debt. Shareholders’ equity was $97.4 million. Future contractual obligations within one year period include $7.9 million in bank debt and $4.4 million in research and development contractual agreements. The Company generated $13.7 million in cash flow from operating activities in the first quarter of fiscal year 2009. Management believes that its strong cash position will sustain the Company’s future cash needs and will enable the Company to successfully implement its growth strategies.
Business Outlook and Guidance
“Part of our current growth strategy includes developing and implementing a systematic marketing strategy through which we hope to develop our presence in China’s rural markets. We believe that rural China offers us good growth potential because the Chinese government actively supports better health care in rural areas. We are currently also exploring acquisition opportunities through which we expect to quickly increase our portfolio of products,” said Mr. Cao. “Regarding corporate governance, we are in the process of selecting and engaging a professional consulting company to help us meet the requirements of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. The improvements we want to bring to our corporate governance are guided by the requirements for applying to a senior U.S. stock exchange. We hope to apply to a senior U.S. stock exchange in the near future in order to increase visibility and liquidity for our shares, and value for our shareholders.”
“Sales have grown quickly for Baobaole Chewable Tablets, Radix Isatidis Dispersible Tablets have found rapid market acceptance, and we expect to expand our product line in the near future. We continue to be confident that we will meet our fiscal year 2009 guidance,” concluded Mr. Cao. “We expect revenue for fiscal 2009 to be from $122.0 to $130.0 million, and operating income to be from $40.0 to $43.0 million.”
Conference Call
Genesis Pharmaceuticals Enterprises, Inc. management will host a conference call at 10:00 a.m. Eastern Time on Monday, November 17, 2008 to discuss financial results for the quarter ended September 30, 2008. Mr. Wubo Cao, Chairman & CEO of Genesis, Ms. Elsa Sung, CFO of Genesis and Ms. Hong Xue, Financial Controller of Genesis will be present at the conference call. To participate in this live conference call, please dial the following number five to ten minutes prior to the scheduled conference call time of 9:00 a.m. Eastern Time on Monday, November 17, 2008: (888) 419-5570. International callers should call (617) 896-9871. The Conference Passcode is 684 940 06. If you are unable to participate in the call at that time, replay of the conference call will be available from Monday, November 17, 2008 at 11:00 a.m. Eastern until Monday, December 1, 2008. To access the replay, call (888) 286-8010. International callers should call (617) 801-6888. The Conference Passcode is: 396 547 67.
About Genesis Pharmaceuticals Enterprises, Inc.
Genesis Pharmaceuticals Enterprises, Inc. is a U.S. public company engaged in the research, development, production, marketing and sales of pharmaceutical products in the People’s Republic of China. Its operations are located in Northeast China in an Economic Development Zone in Laiyang City, Shandong province. Genesis is a pharmaceutical company in China producing western and Chinese herbal-based medical drugs in tablet, capsule, and granule form.
Safe Harbor Statement
Certain statements in this press release that are not historical facts are “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such statements are not guarantees of future performance and are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause the Company’s actual results and financial position to differ materially from those included within the forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties, including those relating to the Company’s ability to introduce, manufacture and distribute new drugs. Actual results may differ materially from predicted results, and reported results should not be considered as an indication of future performance. The potential risks and uncertainties include, among others, the Company’s ability to obtain raw materials needed in manufacturing, the continuing employment of key employees, the failure risks inherent in testing any new drug, the possibility that regulatory approvals may be delayed or become unavailable, patent or licensing concerns that may include litigation, direct competition from other manufacturers and product obsolescence. More information about the potential factors that could affect the Company’s business and financial results is included in the Company’s filings, available via the United States Securities and Exchange Commission.
CONTACT: Ms. Elsa Sung, CFO of Genesis Pharmaceuticals Enterprises, Inc.,
+1-954-727-8435, or genesispharm@gmail.com; Or Mr. Crocker Coulson,
President CCG Investor Relations, Inc., +1-646-213-1915, or
crocker.coulson@ccgir.com
Web site: http://www.genesispharmaceuticals.com/
http://www.ccgirasia.com/
